FORMAT: 18-hole stroke play / 5 rounds of matchplay
Winning your first ‘big’ competition is always special but for Cheshire’s Sam Hall it was just that extra bit memorable as he holed from six feet to win the St Andrew Boys Matchplay on one of the most famous holes in golf.
The Styal junior also had the pleasure of beating Scotland’s Sam Hall in the final 2&1 on the Old Course. The presence of the Gullane youngster ensured the trophy engraver could make an early start on updating the winners’ prize.
Playing the Road Hole (17th), into the teeth of the brisk wind, the English player watched as his namesake missed from 15 feet for a four and then rolled in his par putt to secure the title.
“I’ve not really won anything before, said the 18-year-old, who finished second in the Cheshire Boys Junior Championship last week.
“It was great to be in contention and I managed to come out on top.”
The plus one handicapper, who is taking part in the British Boys at Royal Cinque Ports next week, made a fast start in the final and was three up after five, birdieing the third and fifth before losing the sixth.
It stayed tight. The players exchanged holes before halving the 12th, 13rd, 14th and 15th and the Scottish teenager took the next with a par to cut the gap to one but his hopes of a comeback success were dashed soon after.
In the morning semi-final, also on the Old Course, the would-be-champion tackled Northumberland’s Angus Buchanan (Slaley Hall) and fought back from two down, winning 14, 15 and 16 to secure a 3&1 success.
The other three matchplay rounds plus the strokeplay qualifier were played on the Eden Course, Sam qualifying with a one under 69.